A stationary frontal system over northeastern Pennsylvania combined with a weak upper level disturbance to focus heavy rain producing thunderstorms over the area. Torrential downpours over just a couple of hours accumulated between 3 to 5 inches of rainfall in small stream basins above the large metropolitan area known as the Lackawanna-Wyoming Valley.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS BGM wrote it up.
A stationary frontal system over northeastern Pennsylvania combined with a weak upper level disturbance to focus heavy rain producing thunderstorms over the area. Torrential downpours over just a couple of hours accumulated between 3 to 5 inches of rainfall in small stream basins above the large metropolitan area known as the Lackawanna-Wyoming Valley. Severe flash flooding resulted in many road and bridge washouts around the local region. Motorists were stranded on urban streets and the flooding resulted in the deaths of two people who attempted to evacuate their vehicle into rushing waters. Another four people were seriously injured when their vehicle crashed into the remnants of a washed out bridge. The perpetual thunderstorms and flooding also shut down the Luzerne County Fair. Overall damages to the region as a result of this severe flooding are estimated at around 20 million dollars.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Binghamton, NY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Sep 9, 5:23 PM EST, 52 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Binghamton NY 623 PM EDT Sat Sep 9 2023 .SYNOPSIS... A stationary front will continue to bring several rounds of showers and thunderstorms to the region through the weekend. Some storms may be severe and produce strong winds and heavy rain. A brief break is possible late Monday into Tuesday next week before another cold front and additional chances for showers and thunderstorms return. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... 620 PM Update... Updated Pops to account for rain showers and thunderstorms moving in quicker than anticipated. Also expanded Pops to NEPA where thunderstorms are firing up. Sky grids were also updated along with temperatures and dewpoints. 250 PM update... Main concerns in the near term are focused on the potential for strong to severe thunderstorms later this afternoon and evening, along with the potential for heavy rain that may lead to flash flooding. We are also watching the potential for another round of heavy rain on Sunday into Sunday night. Current conditions are quiet as much of the region has been covered in a layer of stratus through most of the morning and early afternoon hours. This has kept nearly the entire area in a fairly stable air mass, but this is expected to come to an end quickly this afternoon as a the cloud cover gradually lifts northward and a relatively potent MCV over northwest PA moves to the east and stretches north-south as it moves through central PA/s-central NY. We are already seeing a line of convection develop on the leading edge of the MCV in n-central PA, and this line is expected to intensify as the air mass out ahead of this feature will likely destabilize and provide an environment for deep convection. There is an axis of strong instability once again oriented nearly parallel to the I-95 corridor with ML CAPE values 1000-2000 J/kg within this axis. There exists a fairly strong gradient of instability along the western edge of this axis, which extends into portions of central NY and northeast PA. A decent amount of clearing in central PA this afternoon has also allowed this instability to spread, and this trend is expected to continue northward as the clouds clear south to north. As the line of convection pushes east, the storms should blossom with some storms becoming severe. The main threat will be damaging winds. We are also concerned with the threat of heavy rain leading to flash flooding. A robust flow of deep moisture will be in place along and ahead of the MCV, and will converge across central/ne PA and into portions of southern NY. Short MBE vectors on model soundings are indicative of the potential for back-building storms and training of heavy rain over the same area. Tall skinny CAPE profiles and deep warm cloud depths will also be in place. Recent rainfall and very wet ground conditions will create easy runoff conditions. Thunderstorms will likely persist into the late evening hours as the system moves through. However, after midnight there should be abatement of the convection with the loss of daytime instability and forcing from the MCV moves out. There could be some patchy fog that develops later tonight and into Sunday morning. The overall pattern will remain very similar on Sunday with moist southerly flow in place and the next round of showers and storms expected to develop and move through during the day. At this time it appears the threat for severe storms is quite a bit lower on Sunday than today. Much of the region will be enshrouded in cloud cover with lingering light rain showers in the morning. This will act to cut back on the instability, but the presence of a deep upper trough to the west will allow for enough large-scale lift to develop showers and storms over the area Sunday afternoon. A weak NE-SW oriented boundary will also provide a focus for convection and PWs around 1.5 inches should once again lead to deep storms capable of heavy rainfall rates. Short MBE vectors in place will allow for back- building storms and more training potential. Thunderstorms should subside Sunday night with the threat of patchy fog into early Monday morning. && .SHORT TERM /MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... 250 PM update... The main upper trough on Monday will finally move farther to the east with some trailing showers and storms early in the day, but the overall trend should be to dry conditions out later in the day. High pressure will start to build in from the west and temperatures Mon afternoon will warm into the 70s. A slightly cooler air mass will move in Monday night and temperatures will drop into the mid to upper 50s. The high will move slowly over the area on Tuesday as the next upper level low over the Great Lakes tracks to the east/se. Cloud cover will increase as the system approaches later in the day Tuesday. A few scattered showers and storms will pop up Tue afternoon as temperatures warm into the upper 70s to near 80. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/... 250 PM update... The upper low will lift northeastward into Canada on Tue night into early Wed with most of the showers and storms slowly carrying eastward. There may be a period Tue night and early Wed when the convection will produce heavy rainfall. A plume of deep/nearly tropical moisture will advect north into this system and provide the necessary ingredients for heavy rain. After the rain moves through, later in the day Wed through the rest of the week, a large dome of high pressure with very dry air will build in and provide a much needed break in the rain. Temperatures will also be very cool through the latter part of the week with highs in the 60s close to 70 and overnight lows in the 40s and lower 50s. && .AVIATION /22Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... Fuel Alt ceilings at ELM/BGM are expected this afternoon with MVFR ceiling restrictions at ITH/SYR/RME. Brief VFR conditions return to AVP with the possibility of RME/SYR/ITH seeing VFR conditions as well. MVFR restrictions return this evening as rain showers and thunderstorms are expected to move in along a stationary front. The first round of rains showers are expected to slide in from the southwest from approximately 22Z-03Z. Confidence is low at this time on which terminals will be impacted by thunderstorms, therefore this will be included in the next update. Conditions are expected to gradually decline overnight as fog is expected to settle at RME/SYR/ITH/ELM/BGM. IFR restrictions are possible at RME/SYR with Below Alt Min restrictions possible at ITH/ELM/BGM. Conditions are expected to improve to MVFR in the morning with another round of showers moving in shortly after. This should keep ceilings at MVFR restrictions until the end of the period. Winds are expected to be light and variable overnight and into tomorrow. Outlook... Sunday...Restrictions likely. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected. Storms on Sunday appear to initiate a little earlier in the afternoon and persist into the evening. Brief restrictions within storms are possible, along with restrictions due to low clouds and fog. Sunday overnight through Tuesday...Morning restrictions possible from low clouds and or fog. Also, scattered showers throughout this period but with fewer and higher restrictions. Wednesday...A better chance of showers and storms exists with associated restrictions. Thursday... More restrictions possible due to showers. && .BGM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PA...None. NY...None. && SYNOPSIS...BJT NEAR TERM...BJT/ES SHORT TERM...BJT LONG TERM...BJT AVIATION...ES
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Binghamton NY 424 PM EDT Sat Sep 9 2023 NYZ056-057-062-PAZ038>040-043-044-047-048-072-102030- Broome-Delaware-Sullivan-Bradford-Susquehanna-Northern Wayne-Wyoming- Lackawanna-Luzerne-Pike-Southern Wayne- 424 PM EDT Sat Sep 9 2023 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 677 IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central New York and northeast Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Severe Thunderstorm Watch. Thunderstorms at times will bring torrential rainfall and a risk for localized flash flooding this afternoon and tonight. Some storms may also contain strong gusty winds. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. Thunderstorms on Sunday will bring torrential rainfall and a risk for localized flash flooding. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. NYZ009-015>018-022>025-036-037-044>046-055-102030- Northern Oneida-Yates-Seneca-Southern Cayuga-Onondaga-Steuben- Schuyler-Chemung-Tompkins-Madison-Southern Oneida-Cortland-Chenango- Otsego-Tioga- 424 PM EDT Sat Sep 9 2023 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central New York. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Thunderstorms at times will bring torrential rainfall and a risk for localized flash flooding this afternoon and tonight. Some storms may also contain strong gusty winds. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. Thunderstorms on Sunday will bring torrential rainfall and a risk for localized flash flooding. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Binghamton NY
611 PM EDT Sat Sep 9 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0545 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 NE Waverly 41.54N 75.69W
09/09/2023 Lackawanna PA 911 Call Center
tree down in road time estimated from radar.
0540 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Waverly 41.52N 75.72W
09/09/2023 Lackawanna PA 911 Call Center
tree down on N Abington Road time estimated
from radar.
&&Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Binghamton NY
618 PM EDT Sat Sep 9 2023
PAZ047-092245-
Luzerne PA-
618 PM EDT Sat Sep 9 2023
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN LUZERNE COUNTY
THROUGH 645 PM EDT...
At 618 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Conyngham, or near Hazleton, moving north at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Hazleton, Berwick, West Hazleton, Dorrance, Conyngham, Nescopeck,
Slocum, Sugar Notch, Shickshinny, and Nuangola.
This includes the following highway exits...
Interstate 80 between 256 and 262.
Pennsylvania Interstate 81 between 143 and 159.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Heavy rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM EDT for
northeastern Pennsylvania.
&&
LAT...LON 4095 7620 4100 7623 4114 7623 4114 7624
4113 7625 4114 7626 4119 7591 4093 7594
4090 7605
TIME...MOT...LOC 2218Z 164DEG 22KT 4098 7608
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
BJGSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Binghamton NY
645 PM EDT Sat Sep 9 2023
PAZ047-092315-
Luzerne PA-
645 PM EDT Sat Sep 9 2023
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN LUZERNE COUNTY
THROUGH 715 PM EDT...
At 644 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Shickshinny, or 10 miles northeast of Berwick, moving northeast at 10
mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Muhlenberg, Nanticoke, Slocum, Shickshinny, Nuangola, Warrior Run,
Mountain Top, Pond Hill, Sweet Valley, and Huntington Mills.
This includes the following highway exits...
Pennsylvania Interstate 81 near 159.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Heavy rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM EDT for
northeastern Pennsylvania.
&&
LAT...LON 4107 7614 4120 7626 4135 7613 4113 7589
TIME...MOT...LOC 2244Z 229DEG 11KT 4118 7614
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
BJGPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Binghamton NY
700 PM EDT Sat Sep 9 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0640 PM Rain Harveys Lake 41.36N 76.03W
09/09/2023 M2.55 inch Luzerne PA Trained Spotter
Storm total so far - rain continues.
&&Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Binghamton NY
709 PM EDT Sat Sep 9 2023
PAZ043-044-047-092345-
Wyoming PA-Luzerne PA-Lackawanna PA-
709 PM EDT Sat Sep 9 2023
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT WEST CENTRAL LACKAWANNA...
NORTHEASTERN LUZERNE AND SOUTHEASTERN WYOMING COUNTIES THROUGH 745 PM
EDT...
At 709 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Luzerne, or near Wilkes-Barre, moving northeast at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Falls, Kingston, Plains, Old Forge, Pittston,
Taylor, Plymouth, and Moosic.
This includes the following highway exits...
Pennsylvania Interstate 81 between 175 and 185.
Interstate 476 between 115 and 122.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Heavy rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM EDT for
northeastern Pennsylvania.
&&
LAT...LON 4121 7592 4133 7606 4155 7583 4135 7556
TIME...MOT...LOC 2309Z 223DEG 26KT 4131 7591
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
BJGSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Binghamton NY
715 PM EDT Sat Sep 9 2023
NYZ045-056-100000-
Chenango NY-Broome NY-
715 PM EDT Sat Sep 9 2023
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL BROOME AND SOUTHERN
CHENANGO COUNTIES THROUGH 800 PM EDT...
At 715 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Sanitaria Springs, or 12 miles northeast of Binghamton, moving north
at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Guilford, Coventry, Greene, Oxford, Windsor, Afton, South Oxford,
Brisben, Harpursville, and Sanitaria Springs.
This includes the following highway exits...
Interstate 86/Route 17 near 78.
Interstate 88 between 4 and 6.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Heavy rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM EDT for
central New York.
&&
LAT...LON 4209 7561 4206 7575 4215 7583 4250 7578
4243 7543
TIME...MOT...LOC 2315Z 195DEG 22KT 4220 7571
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
MPHThe Binghamton radar (KBGM), 81 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:16 UTC.
11 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Multiple roads flooded in the area and multiple cars stuck in deep water.
Flooding reported on Richards Lane and surrounding areas.
A man and woman succumbed to flash flooding as they attempted to evacuate their vehicle while stuck in the railroad overpass crossing Shady Lane. Flood waters rapidly filled their vehicle and the woman was swept downstream. The man was also swept away and sustained grave injuries after being slammed into a sign post and guardrail. He died a few days later. Severe flooding also stranded several other vehicles in this immediate area.
Water and rocks reported across several roads in La Plume township.
Flooding reported on Lockville Road and also along Route 292 East. Both roads closed down to traffic.
PA-118 in Fairmont Township was closed in multiple locations as a result of water rapidly flooding over the roadway.
Social media reports flash flooding along U.S. Route 11 near the gas station with multiple occupied vehicles stranded with water to the bumpers.
Leggetts Creek flooding from South Abington Township to the Lackawanna River in Scranton. Severe flooding of residental structures on Leggett Street, Gilbert Street and Rockwell Street is occurring with evacuations underway.
Toby Creek is well out of its banks, flooding an unknown number of homes and businesses.
Bridges washed out in Falls Township along Oak Drive, Dickinson Road and Deerfield Drive. Residents cut off from homes and evacuation routes.
A single car crash occurred at this location as a result of the rural water crossing being compromised by flash flooding. The bridge gave way beneath the moving vehicle which then crashed into the remnants of the culvert/bridge system. All four occupants of the vehicle were severely injured and rushed to nearby hospitals.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood, Lackawanna | 2023-09-09 | 61 | Female | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
| Flash Flood, Lackawanna | 2023-09-09 | 56 | Male | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, September 2023
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1140874, 1140875, 1140880, 1140876, 1140881, 1140887, 1140883, 1140882, 1140885, 1140884, 1140886.